Safety stair pad retainer



Sept. 18, 1934. D. E. MELTZ 1,974,340

SAFETY STAIR PAD RETAINER Original Filed Jan. 4, 1932 3 J5 Fla j 17 J6 .DHV/D E. MEL 72 3 ATTORNEYS Patented Sept. 18, 1934 STATES PATENT OFFICE Application January 4, 1932, Serial No. 584,685 Renewed July 20, 1934 1 Claim.

This invention relates to stair pad retainers and it has for one of its objects the provision of means for avoiding the fracturing or chipping of the stair steps when fastening pads to a stone 5 step or the like.

Another object of the invention is to provide pad-retaining means having an adjustable flange so that any desired depth may be accommodated.

Still another object of the invention is to provide new and novel features of joining the flange to the pad proper.

Other objects of the invention will be appreciated from a reading of the following specification.

The invention will be fully and comprehensively understood from a consideration of the following detailed description when read in connection with the accompanying drawing which forms part of the application with the understanding, however, that the improvement is capable of extended application and is not confined .to the exact showing of the drawing nor to the precise construction described and, therefore, such changes and modifications may be made therefrom as do not affect the spirit of the invention nor exceed the scope thereof as expressed in the appended claim.

The present method for fastening stair pads to steps comprises providing frames for the pads and driving fastening elements through the frames into the steps. The difficulty arises when attempts are made to fasten screws to the front edge of the step. Since the front of the frames are at the front edges of the steps, the latter break off along the front edges when the fastening elements are driven therein. Fracturing or chipping of the step cannot be caused by my improved structure because the pad retaining means which I employ are held in place by fastening elements extending horizontally into the steps from the fronts thereof, which are of such depth that the fastening elements need not be placed close to the edges of the steps.

It is known that the step with my improved method includes a riser having the usual kickplate.

In the drawing:

Fig. 1 is a fragmentary plan view of the improved pad fastened to a step.

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary front elevation of the same.

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary cross-sectional view taken on line 33 of Fig. 2, looking in the direction of the arrows.

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary sectional view taken on line 44 of Fig. 2, looking in the direction of the arrows; and

Fig. 5 is a modified form of my improved pad as shown in Fig. 3.

Referring to the drawing for a more detailed description thereof, and at first to Figs. 1 to 4, inclusive, the numeral '7 indicates a stair pad. The pad is provided with a U-shaped frame 15 enclosing the rear and part of the sides of the pad. U-shaped retaining means 14 is provided for completing the frame around the pad and for holding the pad toa step 13. The U-shaped frames 14 and 15 are joined by screws 16 at the sides of the pad, the ends of the frame 15 being depressed as shown at 17 in Fig. 4 so that the mentioned frames are flush at the joints. As clearly shown in Fig. 3, the first form of my retaining means comprises a single sheet or plate of material, preferably metal, bent toform upper and lower flanges which engage the edge of the pad on the top and the bottom respectively, and to form a depending plate 12 which is attachable to a step by means of screws 8. An inner vertical plate 10 is provided with elongated vertical slots 9 and contacts with the upper part of the vertical face of the step and with the depending or vertical plate 12. Screws 8 pass through the plates or sheets 12 and 10 to secure the retaining means to the step and thereby hold the pad securely thereon. The inner vertical plate or sheet 10 is provided with an inwardly extending horizontal flange 11 which contacts with the lower face of the overhanging or projecting ledge of the step. It will be appreciated that the inner plate 10, being provided with the elongated slots 9 is adjustable relative to the plate 12, being made adjustable to accommodate ledges of different depth, it being understood that steps in different buildings have ledges which vary as to depth and that the inwardly extending horizontal flange aids as a retaining means. In Fig. 5, I show the same retaining means without the inner plate 10.

What is claimed, is:

A stair pad and means engaging said pad and comprising a vertical plate attachable to the front of a step, and an inner vertical plate secured to said first plate and adjustable vertically relative to the same and comprising a horizontal flange at its lower edge adapted to contact with the lower face of a projecting portion of a step.

DAVID E. MELTZ. 

